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Los Angeles Chargers’ Kellen Clemens (10) and Drew Kaser (8) celebrate an extra point kicked by Kaser in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Drew Kaser did not attempt a field goal in high school. He did not attempt a field goal in college. And despite being forced into emergency kicking duties on Thanksgiving, he has yet to attempt a field goal in the NFL.

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The Chargers punter got the first point of his career on Thursday, making one of his three extra-point attempts in a 28-6 win over the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. But when the team faced fourth-and-13 on the Dallas 16-yard line in the second quarter, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn attempted to convert — forgoing a chance at three points.

“Someone told me he was practicing his kicks and he missed the whole damn net,” Lynn said of Kaser. “So I decided to go for it.”

For what it’s worth, Kaser claims he did not miss the whole damn net.

“There was a hole in the net,” he said. “And it went through the hole.”

Regardless of where that ball actually went, it’s hard to fault Kaser’s struggles as the replacement kicker. The second-year punter was forced into the role due to Nick Novak’s back injury, one that had limited the veteran kicker during a short week of practices. Clearly hampered, Novak pushed a 35-yarder wide right in the first quarter — his first miss from inside 40 yards since 2014.

Novak made a 22-yard field goal in the second quarter, but also missed an extra point for the first time this season.

The Chargers (5-6) turned to Kaser for most of the second half. He made an extra point with 1:52 left in the third quarter — bumping his team’s lead to 16-0, but missed his next two tries. Had the Chargers scored another touchdown, Lynn said he likely would have gone for two points.

This wasn’t the first time a team has lost a kicker mid-game. This past Sunday, Eagles kicker Jake Elliott suffered a concussion in the same stadium. Philadelphia turned to linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, but after he missed the net on the sideline, the team never tried another field goal or extra point.

“The swing’s completely different,” Kaser said. “Different approach. Basically, different everything. That’s why you don’t really see a lot of guys do it in pros.”

Playing on Thursday gives the Chargers an extra weekend off before hosting the Browns next Sunday, so they have some time to assess Novak’s health. The 36-year-old is due for an MRI on Friday, and was optimistic that he would be ready to play again at StubHub Center.

“If he can get back out there, we’d love to have him,” Lynn said. “But if not, we’ll see.”

Asked if the team would consider bringing back Younghoe Koo, the rookie that Novak replaced in early October, Lynn was noncommittal.

“We’ll take a look at anybody if we have to,” he said.

Injury report

Ten minutes into his sixth NFL appearance, Mike Williams was carted to the locker room with a knee injury. It was an ominous moment for the No. 7 overall pick, who had set career highs with five catches for 38 yards against the Bills just five days earlier.

Williams also missed the first five games of the season with a herniated disc in his lower back, and sat out most of the 2015 season at Clemson due to a neck fracture that did not require surgery.

He was seen with a knee brace and crutches after Thursday’s game. Williams had been limited in practices this week with a knee injury, but the latest ailment may be unrelated.

“I’m not sure this has anything to do with the injury he had in practice,” Lynn said. “It was just sore in practice. This was completely different.”

Right tackle Joe Barksdale returned to the Chargers starting lineup on Thursday, his first appearance since Oct. 15. The veteran lineman had missed four straight contests due to a foot injury, and had not played a full game since a season-opening loss in Denver.

Barksdale’s presence made for the fourth offensive line combination the Chargers have started this season.

Linebacker Hayes Pullard (neck) and backup defensive end Chris McCain (quad) also returned. Both were held out against the Bills last Sunday, and Pullard also missed a Week 10 loss in Jacksonville.

Jack Wang covers the Chargers, the latest NFL team to relocate to Los Angeles. He previously covered the Rams, and also spent four years on the UCLA beat, a strange period in which the Bruins' football program often outpaced their basketball team. He is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley, where he spent most of his time in The Daily Californian offices in Eshleman Hall — a building that did not become earthquake-safe until after his time on campus.